Back-to-school season is here, and while pencils, notebooks and new sneakers may top the shopping list, there’s one item that can make your child’s return to the classroom extra special – a lunchbox with personality. Millennial parents looking for something fun can turn to their own childhood – retro lunchboxes are making a comeback! So serve up a dose of nostalgia and a splash of fun with these vintage-inspired lunch boxes that can make lunch the highlight of your child’s day.
The Care Bears Clouds Lunch Bag
The next best thing to allowing your child to take their favorite Care Bear to school? Toting lunch in this cute pastel cooler. It features the seven bears adventuring in care-a-lot – their magical world in the clouds – and is adorned with cute ombre details. Bonus: It comes with a strap, perfect for toting afternoon snacks in addition to lunch.
Thundercats, ho! This super vintage looking tin features characters Lion-O and Mumm-Ra on opposite sides of the lunchbox … but we also like this insulated model. Either would be great for millennial fans of the short-lived sci-fi series. You can also introduce your kids to the series – it is streaming on Hulu.
Marvel Comics X-Men Lunchbox and Thermos
This matching lunchbox and thermos features art from the 1991 comic book by Jim Lee. Great for comic book nerds who love to read their favorite franchises in print, or just X-Men fanatics who want something collectible to discuss.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Lunch Box
Who isn’t a fan of TMNT? Whether your child identifies most with Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello or Michelangelo, they’ll love toting this vibrantly-colored, classic lunchbox to school. Heroes in a half shell…turtle power!
The Powerpuff Girls Square Lunch Bag
A great way to amplify the girl power in your daughter’s day, this compact lunch tote features Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup, the original superhero sisters. It comes with a cute glitter heart keychain accessory and a zip pocket to store lunchtime extras.
This soft, PVC-lined lunch tote is a classic way for your child to show their love for all things Batman. With the logo and bat-signal on one side and tons of small bats on the other, this neutral-hued tote will match any outfit. Pair it with a matching water bottle or food jar for a coordinated lunch set.
King of the Hill Insulated Lunch Bag
While it can absolutely do double duty for Dad’s camping or road trips – it keeps items hot or cold – this messenger-style lunch tote pays homage to Bobby, Hank, Peggy and Luanne, the Texas-based family from the animated series.
The Simpsons Large Capacity Lunch Bag
With an airtime of over 35 years, The Simpsons is the longest running animated show in history. There are an array of lunch bags to show your dedication and love of the show, but we like this one featuring Homer looking tough and Marge listening to tunes. Big enough for extra-hungry kids, with a mesh side pocket for beverages.
For moody teen girls, we challenge you to do better than this Daria “I Hate Everybody” lightweight lunch bag repping the MTV series. And if you have other kids, you’re in luck: Popfunk’s line on Amazon pays homage to many favorite shows, including Rick and Morty, Spongebob Squarepants, Beavis and Butthead and Mean Girls.